Effect of CTAB and SDS micelles on the excited state equilibria of some indole probes

The absorption and fluorescence spectral characteristics of some biologically active indoles have been studied as a function of acidity and basicity (H_/pH/Ho) in cationic (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB), anionic (sodium dodecylsulphate, SDS) and aqueous phases at a given surfactant concentration. The prototropic equilibrium reactions of these probes have been studied in aqueous and micellar phases and apparent excited state acidity constant (pKa*) values are calculated. The probes show formation of different species on changing pH. Various species present in water, CTAB and SDS have been identified and the equilibrium constants have been determined by Fluorimetric Titration method. The fluorescence spectral data suggest the formation of oxonium ion through the excited state proton transfer reaction in highly acidic media and formation of photoproducts due to the base catalyzed auto-oxidative reaction in basic aqueous solutions. Variations in the apparent pKa* value have been observed in different media. The change in the apparent pKa values depends upon the solubilising power of the micelles, as well as on the location of the protonating site in the molecule. The observation about increase in pKa* values in SDS and decrease in CTAB compared to pure water for various equilibria is consistent with the pseudophase ion-exchange (PIE) model.